Upside Down Kingdom – Week 3

Would You Rather Pretend or Be Yourself? 

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.  

 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16  

 1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 

Matthew 6:1  

Keys to Upside Down Living   

 1. Giving Quietly 

 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.  Matthew 6:2 

 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 

Matthew 6:3-4  

2. Pray Without Performance 

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 

6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  

Matthew 6:5-6 

3. Fast Without Recognition 

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. Matthew 6:16 

 17 But when you fast, comb your hair[a] and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.   

Matthew 6:17-18 

Two Questions:  

•  Who is your audience? 
• Can I genuinely live for Jesus?    

How to Live for Jesus  

 1. Desire – Do I want to be real, or do I want to pretend?  

 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21 

22 No judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ 

Matthew 7:21-23  

2. Decision – Am I willing to make Jesus my only audience? 

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33  Seek the Kingdom of GoD above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.   

Matthew 6:31-33  

3. Decision – Am I willing to make Jesus my only audience? 

4. Devotion – TO BE GENUINELY DIFFERENT AND FOLLOW JESUS  

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. 

Matthew 7:28-29  

God Loves the Real You!